The Kings are happy to return to Toyota Arena for the Ontario Empire Classics, giving Ontario NHL games should have

Jim Hiller’s first experience watching the game in Ontario from above during the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs.

That was after the Kings themselves were eliminated, but Ontario rule is still in the game, entering the third round for the first time since 2016. Hiller has been sitting on the bench at the exhibition in the building, but given the AHL game and the conflicting schedule, it was his first viewing opportunity. Despite the failure of the domination that night and ending their season, Hiller was impressed by what he witnessed.

“What a crowd,” he recalled. “I got rid of this, the building was electric, it’s where the game was played in the American League. Their fans supported our A League team and the games we played there, and they were loud to us. It was an amazing hockey market and I loved the building, so we were always happy to be there.”

Games like tomorrow’s Empire Classic are special for those who attend events because they’re just something different. While it’s always a pleasure to be familiar with NHL architecture, the crowds are rarely full and fans usually open at night soon. This makes a lot of sense.

However, when you play in the AHL market, it is usually the only NHL action flavor in a given season. For Ontario, that day is tomorrow, and a series of La Kings players will start heading to the Inland Empire to start the preseason. It won’t be the entire NHL roster, but there will be NHL regulars in the game with players who have played AHL games in Ontario and the organization’s highest prospects.

Greetings that group will be the ones who are almost sold out, ready to accept the NHL. There is no NHL opening night to look forward to in Ontario, but that’s what makes tomorrow’s game so unique, and you’ll usually see some extra juice in the preseason.

“It adds a little bit of electricity to the building, and I think that makes the players progress more,” Shearer added. “Sometimes, it’s hard to motivate them in preseason with experienced players, but I know it’s special. A lot of people are there too, so they’ve been in the building and they can enjoy these fans.”

Hiller is just about the number of people promoted.

In the 2025 training camp roster, 14 players played at least one game for the Kings and reign. Several players are expected to be on the lineup for the Kings in the preseason tomorrow. While the roster will be released tomorrow morning, it hasn’t stopped several of the players from talking about their time in Ontario earlier today.

Take Alex Turcotte as an example. His favorite memories of Ontario are actually exactly the same as those of Hiller. Turcotte was on the ice in that playoff game, and he expanded the playoffs for the first time at a professional level.

“They show up every night,” he said of Ontario fans in the playoffs.

For Turcotte and many others, the road to Los Angeles stopped in Ontario. Turcotte played four AHL seasons during his reign, with 13 regular season games in addition to the playoffs. He made wonderful memories and knew what the cessation of Ontario meant in career and personal development and development.

“Obviously, a lot of us have gone through there, so when we got here and started our careers, they saw us, they almost saw us growing up,” Turcotte said of Ontario fans. “I’m sure they really like seeing guys who were seeing on the kings there, playing in front of them again. We want them to have fun, and I know some people are looking forward to going back and playing there again and getting support.”

Defensive player Brandt Clarke also joined the team as he compiled one of the rookies running for a defensive player in history.

Clarke was selected as the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, representing the dominance of the event. Clarke scored 44 points in 48 games, was selected as the second All-Star team in the AHL at the end of the season, and All-Rook.

Although the dynamic young defensive player will be on the roster, otherwise, he would be happy to go back to Toyota Stadium and play there again.

“If I’m lucky enough to be able to play, I’d be happy to do that,” Clark said. “I love being there, the fans are always great, I’m so grateful for the time I’ve been there, and everyone I meet is kind. It’s great if I can play again and do a great show for the fans.”

For different striker Akil Thomas from Ontario, Canada, he was almost surprised at how powerful his support was during his reign.

You don’t know what you don’t know. For players entering what you call a non-traditional hockey market, you don’t always know what will happen. But the support for Thomas is not unconventional, and he highly commented on Ontario’s game.

“They were there with the stubborn fans, I probably didn’t expect to go to Ontario, I didn’t know, but it was big,” Thomas recalls. “If I go there tomorrow and see the same face, it would be special. I really thank the Ontario fans.”

After today’s practice, letters from several players heard that few Ontario alumni who were not excited about the game tomorrow. Whether they play or not, they know what the Toyota Stadium is like and what it means for a good fan base.

Defensive Jacob Moverare, who ranks third in Ontario’s history in the game played by a defensive player, enjoys being part of the Kings who now passes the system with the Kings and is now playing together at the NHL level. He called it “very good vibe” in the domination game and said that if you play there again the day, it’s “really cool”.

For forward Andre Lee, who distributed the 2024-25 season between Los Angeles and Ontario, responded to what many teammates said. He enjoyed the time with the reign and was always showing on the ice when he was on the ice.

“It’s fun, and I think it means a lot to the fans there,” Lee said. “They always come to support us and I think they’re happy that the big clubs are coming there. I think they’ll like. I’ve played a lot there in the three years and I think fans will love it. It’s special and the organization is happy to bring the big clubs there and praise the fans there.”

Forward Jeff Malott took a similar boat.

He was in power until March, when Turcotte and forward Tanner Jeannot had a place in the roster. Malott won his expression in the AHL, he never came back, played 12 NHL games in the regular season and played another six games in the playoffs. Despite this, he never took it for granted that he liked his time at this point and should compete tomorrow and he was happy to be back to that day.

“It’s exciting for people in Ontario, they totally deserve it. They’re around us every night and they’re cheering for us and it’s going to be a new level in the end, and they probably don’t have the chance to watch these guys again, except for this game, besides playing there, we’re really happy to be there and every time we have a chance to play for the fans in Ontario.”

I think you understand.

It’s a great way to start preseason for the Kings, showing some love to a place that shows so much love to many members of the organization.

The Kings and Ducks will play at Toyota Arena tomorrow at 3pm. The Imperial Classic tickets are less than 500, the first game in the Kings preseason. If you are still looking to participate, the last one you can still find can be found here.

Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images